No Strings Attached by Jaci Burton

in love with him, aren’t you?”
    She was seconds away from denying it, but realized Tish would browbeat her mercilessly
     until she confessed. She sank back in her chair. “Yes. I love him.”
    Tish leaned forward. “Then what’s the problem, honey? Tell him.”
    “I can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “You know why. He doesn’t want attachments in his life. Besides, I swore I’d never
     get involved with anyone in this industry again. Next time I fall in love it’s going
     to be with a nice…accountant or something.”
    Tish studied her with a critical gaze.
    “What?”
    “You’re afraid.”
    “I am not.”
    “Yes, you are. You’re afraid if you fall in love again, the man you love is going
     to drop dead like James did.”
    Ella struggled to speak past the pain and fury that boiled inside her. “That’s harsh.”
    Tish lifted her chin. “I know. And it’s the damn truth. You’re scared to death that
     you love Clay. Someone who could die on you, just like James did.”
    “I am not. I just know it would never work. He isn’t interested.”
    “How do you know unless you tell him? I think you’re giving bullshit excuses to ignore
     your fear.”
    Ella stood, paced the room, finally settling on looking out her window at the parking
     lot. “I’m not afraid. I’m strong, Tish. I withstood a lot with James’s death.”
    “And you don’t want to go through it again, so you’re tossing all this on Clay, when
     in reality it’s you who’s the problem.”
    She kept her gaze trained on the window. “I thought you were my friend.”
    She heard the crackle of the leather cushion, then felt Tish behind her, her arms
     encircling her. “I am your friend. I love you. I went through that pain with you and
     never want to see you go through it again. And remember…I’ve been there, too.”
    Ella nodded. “I know.” She wanted to say that Tish’s situation was different, that
     her husband’s cancer had been slow and debilitating. But had it really been different?
     They’d both lost men they loved. She was so confused.
    “Ella. You can’t stop living just because you lost someone. It took me a long time
     to get past John’s death. But I did. And I’m dating again. I haven’t fallen in love
     yet, but I’m allowing myself the opportunity to. And I know it’ll happen someday when
     the right man comes along. You have to open your heart and let it happen for you,
     too.”
    Tears welled and she forced them back, refusing to dwell on the past, or the possible
     future that was riddled with terror. “You know what Clay does for a living, Tish.”
    “Yeah. The same thing that James did. But the construction business didn’t kill your
     husband, Ella. An aneurysm did.”
    She shook her head. “I can’t lose another man I love. Not again. I wouldn’t survive
     it.”
    Tish squeezed her shoulders. “We’re all going to lose the ones we love, Ella. You
     and I know that more than most people do. We just got a head start on most people.
     And it made us stronger. We’re light-years ahead of the rest of them.”
    That actually made her laugh. “Yeah, I’m strong, all right. I’ve spent the past five
     years proving how goddamn strong I am.”
    “You’re strong enough to try this again. Because you don’t want to spend the rest
     of your life alone, without love. Without being loved.”
    Tears rolled down her face, the anguish tearing her up inside. Was this what she wanted
     for the rest of her life? To feel alone and afraid? She turned to face her best friend.
     “You’re a real bitch, you know.”
    Tish’s lips quirked. “Not the first time I’ve heard that. But you know I’m never gonna
     sugarcoat it for you. You love him. And I know he loves you.”
    Ella swiped her cheeks. “You think he loves me?”
    “He’s been cranky as a bear since he got back. And usually he dives right into work,
     happy as can be to be back there after he’s been gone. Not this time.”
    “Have